An Unwilling Maid

t pang of parting was over, began to enjoy the novelty of the journey most thoroughly. Except for a few days spent at Lebanon, Betty had never been from home in her life, and being, as

ed over the turkey, ham, cake, and even a goodly pat of butter, carefully packed in a small stone jar, while another compartment held several changes of linen, powder, a small mirror, a rouge pot, and some b

while Betty and Mrs. Seymour gladly descended, and warmed themselves well by the kitchen fire, taking a drink of warm milk, for which the good woman who had invited them inside refused payment. She was deeply interested when Mrs. Seymour told her of their erran

with the Connecticut Rangers), trooped out, one and all, to meet them, to inspect the coach, interview Caesar, and admire the horses. Billy, the second boy, fraternized with Betty at once; and after learning all the mysteries of the coach pockets,

tic; but as the roof shelves, you know, it became pretty hot, especially when the fires began, and then mother did get frightened, more especially when she saw the blaze of the Woolfo

a sharp one for a few hours. He has been longing ever since to join his father, but I can only find it in my mother's heart to rejoice that

re bullets had entered and remained buried in the woodwork; and as Betty curled herself up in the centre of the great feather-bed, she thought, with a

to push on; winter was approaching, and each day made the journey less feasible. There was a fairly good road between them and White Plains, and now that she had started she was impatient to reach the city. Betty, too, was eager to be off, so with many warm thanks, they again packed the coach and

although the hills were fewer, they heard Caesar admonish his horses more frequently than usual, and about four o'clock in the day they came to a full stop. The sn

ur in dismay, preparing to jump down

'cordin' to my judgment, we had oughter take a turn to de right, just hyar, which am in de direction ob Ridgefield, whar I ken fin' a blacksmith's shop, shuh. Ef madam pleases, it's goin' somewhat out of de direct way to White Plains, but what wid de weather, whic

y to take care of her, as well as of his horses. "Then take the turn to the right, as you propose. Are you quite sure

ed himself up warmly again, his teeth chattering as he did so. But he said to himself, as the horses started slowly, "

nly shook his head, and responded that he was too busy looking after the horses to eat; and the long hours dragged on as it grew darker and darker. Betty rested her head against the door and peered out at the dripping trees, whose bare limbs stood like skeletons against the leaden sky. Mrs. Seymour had sunk into a fitful doze

ur, addressing the man nearest her. "I am in my own coach with a m

rse, and flung the rein to one of the men. "If you are bound to a city occupied by the Br

r, which the officer, straining his eyes in the

hereof, Mrs. Seymour and maid have permission to

town this second

ASHIN

tioned his men to stand back. "Madam, permit me to present myself as Lieut

the other side, "our ow

y way to the city to intercede for my brother, Captain Seymour's exchange, and, for the once, I do not mind telling you that my companion is Mistress Betty Wolcott,

e around to her side of the coach, "and right glad I am to see you now, sir, instead of the redcoat

he officer; "and while there is no tavern there, my men and I found fairly comfor

ne of my horses has cast a shoe, hence our slow progress.

aesar better," grumbled

ining mile?" said his mistress soothingly. "

ies beyond that turn," raising his whip to direct Caesar. "If it were not for the growing darkness, you would see the smoke from the chimney of the house where I am qua

wooden structure, with a lean-to in the rear, and there Caesar drew up his tired horses. A rather cross-lo

tenant, but so long as you're not Hessians I'm willing

simply in need of a night's lodging. I think we have food enough in our

er a pleasant good-day, "but it's a poor place, anyhow," gazing up at the bare raf

stool toward the fire, and surveying the recently scrubbed floo

seat, and she laid a cloth on the pine-wood table, and at last, after disappearing for a few minutes into the darkness of a small inner room, reappeared with three silver s

the spoons from a voyage he made on the Spanish main, a

cept a cup of the coffee they were drinking. And then Mrs. Seymour induced her to give consent that Caesar should have a shake-down in a corner of the kitchen, and although the bed which Betty and the

ng by a message; and as Mrs. Seymour was not ready t

you," said the officer, bidding her good-morning. "I am off at once, as I carry an order to Gen

beloved ones, "how truly fortunate! Tell my father we are well and in

can urge his horses somewhat, you are not likely to meet with detentions. One of

pon seeing the ladies safely started. Betty seized the opportunity to ask for news of Josiah Hun

eaning from the coach as they were abo

se with some constraint; "indeed, I think

at home pray deliver my fondest love," and tears were brimming in Betty's

s now "The Washington Inn," and beneath it a picture in Continental uniform of a man whose rubicund countenance required considerable imagination to transform into a likeness of the commander-in-chief. As their happened to be a lack of hostlers, it took some time to get the horses baited, and it was later than Mrs. Seymour could have wished when Caesar finally made his appearance and informed his mistress that all was ready for their departure. The weather had been growing colder steadily, a

rapidly at the thought that New York and Clarissa were not far away, when Caesar turn

woods ober dar?" pointing with trembling hand in the direction of a sound which ran

trees in su

cup of al

tempest or

en, to make

p of men came in sight. As they neared the coach, the man in adv

he day be

mug of twelv

ogue in New York. (See Stor

d the horse by the bridle, and another soldier dragged Cae

t his last hour had come, but still having firm faith

ious paper toward the first speaker. The man took it, and gazed stupidly at it. Evidently being German, he could not read i

h? Give us a pottle; that's better than mugs o

firmly; "if you cannot read my safe-conduct yo

n a young fellow, evidently an Englishman, sho

e the paper; I can read it." But Joris, who evidently had reached the stag

ll find for ourselves vhat you is," and seizing Mrs. Seymour by

nd; but as Betty, with equally reckless courage, drew their only weapon from it

ice demanding in stern fashion, "Stand back, there! Whose coach is this? What do you mean, fellow, by handling a lady

ver her face, she felt as if every drop of blood she possessed was tingling in her cheek

you intend to enter New York you will be obliged to leave your coach a mile farther on, and cross the river on horseback. King's Bridge, as you may know, was fired some months ago by the rebels, and the flatboat used for ferrying ha

istance, attempted to spring past him to the ground. As the willful maiden did so the topknot of her hood caught in a provoking nail of the op

et